Gap Year Jobs Abroad

See work abroad editorSusan
Griffith's discussion of the Gap
Year for more on why short-term jobs abroad, long-term
travel, and summer study are part of an important trend
which has spread from England to the U.S. in recent years.
In an interview with Karl Haigler and Rae
Nelson,
Transitions Abroad discusses the options for U.S. students
with the authors of The
Gap-Year Advantage.

In tougher economic times it is
likely that Exploring
Your Gap Year Options may prove to be one possible path
in life you may well wish to take before or during your college
years. Even during more prosperous times the experience of
extended travel made possible by work abroad opens up new worlds
and adaptability skills that will prove invaluable.

Please note that many European jobs—many of which are listed here for the U.K. audience—require a visa, which are often not easy to obtain for U.S. citizens. Information on how to obtain such permits can be found at www.workpermit.com. See William Nolting's article on the subject: An Introduction to Short-term Paid Work Programs for Students and Recent Graduates for the programs which exist abroad to help address and bypass the some of the issues involved in work permit requirements for Americans.

Gap Year Jobs AbroadInterExchange, a nonprofit organization, works with young people from more than 60 countries to connect them with cultural exchange opportunities in the U.S. through Au Pair, Work & Travel, Career Training and Camp programs. We also offer programs for U.S. citizens who want to work or learn outside the U.S. InterExchange Working Abroad offers Teach English, Spanish Immersion, Au Pair and Work & Travel programs.

Working Holidays in Australia and New Zealand with BUNAC for 18 – 35 year olds BUNAC gives you all the support you’ll need to take the hassle out of arranging your work abroad adventure in Australia or New Zealand. With our group flights, you’ll make friends before you touch-down, guaranteeing that you won’t be going it alone. With assistance with job and accommodation hunting on arrival, BUNAC’s fully-supportive packages for up to 12 months will make your working holiday the experience of a lifetime.

Anywork Anywhere; www.anyworkanywhere.com. Resources for work, adventure and travel throughout the UK, Europe and Worldwide. Many opportunities provide accommodations and are full-time temporary positions, with contracts running from 1 week to 12 months; permanent vacancies are also advertised.

CIEE, 300 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101; 1.800.40.STUDY; hsabroad@ciee.org; www.ciee.org/gap. Gap
years or gap semesters for pre-university students arranged in six countries.
Program includes language classes, housing and meals with local host families,
and community service, arrival orientation and excursions, insurance, and
24 hour support. Paid semester and year Teach Abroad programs in six countries
for university graduates. 1.800.407.8839; teach@ciee.org; www.ciee.org/teach.

Easy Way Association, Calle Gran Via 80, planta 10 oficina 1017, 28013 Madrid, Spain; 011-34-91-548 86 79; www.easywayspain.com/ingles/employment.htm. Youth agency which can help students to find work in the hospitality industry provided they know at least elementary Spanish. Most programs include Spanish tuition.

GAP SPORTS, www.sportingopportunities.com. Coach sports and join community development projects in Africa and Latin America . Become a ski / snowboard instructor with work experience in Canada or learn to scuba dive and obtain PADI qualifications in South Africa.

GapGuru, www.gapguru.com, is an ethical gap year provider. Create your perfect gap year to Africa, South America, Asia or Eastern Europe—whether you want to work, volunteer or travel GapGuru has a programme for you!

Gapwork.com, www.gapwork.com, is an independent information and educational provider. Gapwork does not send people on gap years— Gapwork just tells them what they can do, where they can go and how to make the most of it!

GapYear.com, www.gapyear.com, is a fine site billed as the 'the complete guide to taking time out' (and the largest gapyear community in the UK), built to help people take time out in their life.

Launchpad Australia, www.launchpadaustralia.com, offers work, study and volunteer abroad programs for gap years. Choose from a range of gap year programs, including volunteering abroad, working holiday starter packs and language courses.

LEAPNOW: Transforming Education. LEAPNOW offers group and individual programs bringing together academic credit, strong intentional focus on personal evolution, and a database of 6,000+ ways to travel, study, and work in 126 countries for ages 17-24. Contact: info@leapnow.org, www.leapnow.org.

Real Gap Experience, www.realgap.co.uk.
Range of travel, volunteer, and work programs includes short-term
conservation volunteering in Australia, working with wildlife
in Southern Africa, paid teaching in China, and volunteer placements
in Latin America.

Seasonal Jobs New Zealand, www.seasonaljobs.co.nz, has compliled many travel jobs from all over New Zealand and from many industries, such as fruit picking on farms and hospitality just to name a few. We have jobs in great locations and resort towns around New Zealand like Queenstown, Wanaka, Kaikoura, Taupo, Rotorua and many more.

Seasonworkers.com, www.seasonworkers.com, a U.K. site, provides a very diverse listing of jobs for all seasons around the globe. This excellent site also provides tools by which those who have such work experience may stay in touch and network with past co-workers via their active messageboard.

Sport Lived, sportlived.co.uk, is a sporting gap year company which offers you the chance to live and work in Australia or New Zealand and combine this with playing or coaching sport.

Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP) administered by the Canadian Federation of Students, www.swap.ca. Co-ordinates a working holiday program for Canadian students and non-students in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Africa.

TravelJobs.com, www.traveljobs.com.au, is an Australian site which offers many jobs but require a visa, as do most European jobs.

Visitoz Scheme,
www.visitoz.org.
Station (i.e. ranch) which runs 5-day courses in outback working
techniques and then directs participants with working holiday
visas to one of nearly 1,000 employers offering paid jobs on
the land and in the hospitality industry.